Word
fine
Meanings
satisfactory or acceptable; not a problem
of high quality; excellent or very good
very thin, small, or detailed
Definition
Fine means of high quality or acceptable in a way that causes no problems.
Fine most often describes something that is good enough, satisfactory, or not causing difficulty. It can also mean of high quality, especially in style, craft, or detail. In conversation, it is commonly used to say you feel well or that a situation is acceptable, sometimes with a slightly reluctant tone depending on context.
Examples
- I’m fine with rescheduling the meeting if the rest of the team prefers Friday.
- She said she was fine, but her tense expression suggested she needed a break.
- They serve fine food there, though the atmosphere is more relaxed than formal.
- Your explanation is fine overall, but the final step needs clearer justification.
Common mistake
Learners often overuse “fine” to mean “excellent,” even when “okay” or “all right” fits better for a merely satisfactory situation.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.